AUGUSTA, Maine - National Guard officials broke ground for the new 100,000-square-foot Camp Chamberlain that will house the state headquarters of both the Army and Air National Guard.
The facility is in Augusta near the Veterans Cemetery. Acting Adjutant Gen. Gerry Bolduc says it will replace some very old buildings at the current headquarters located at Camp Keyes near the Augusta Airport.
"Some of the buildings here at Camp Keyes - particularly the building I am in, Building 7 - have been around prior to World War I. And it's seen its age and it's time to consolidate some of our offices."
View concept renderings of the new facility.
Gen. Bolduc says Camp Keyes will still house some National Guard offices, including veteran and family support services and an extensive printing plant.
He says the area economy will get a boost from the $32 million in federal funds being used to construct the new facility over the next two years.
"It will be wired for the current standard in terms of fiber optic and computer systems," he says, "but it will also be some capability to expand it."
